Background Fetch

Improve user experience by performing data operations in the background without blocking the main thread.

API Documentation

What is Background Fetch?

Background fetch allows web applications to download and process data in the background, even if the user navigates away from the page or closes the browser. This enables powerful capabilities like offline downloads, data synchronization, and improved performance.

Continuous Operation
Operations continue in the background even when users navigate away
Performance
Improve perceived performance by pre-fetching resources in the background

Implementation Examples

Explore these practical examples of background fetch in action using real public APIs.

Data Synchronization with JSONPlaceholder API
Keep data in sync between client and server without blocking the UI

Best Practices

Follow these guidelines to implement background fetch effectively in your applications.

User Experience Considerations
  • Always provide progress indicators for background operations
  • Notify users when background operations complete
  • Allow users to cancel background operations
  • Handle errors gracefully and provide retry options
  • Respect user preferences for data usage
Technical Implementation
  • Use service workers for persistent background operations
  • Implement proper error handling and retry mechanisms
  • Consider battery and data usage implications
  • Test across different network conditions
  • Implement proper caching strategies

Browser Support

Background fetch is supported in modern browsers, but implementation details may vary.

Supported Browsers

  • Chrome 74+
  • Edge 79+
  • Opera 62+
  • Chrome for Android 74+

Fallback Strategies

  • Use feature detection to check for support
  • Implement progressive enhancement
  • Provide alternative synchronous methods
  • Consider using Web Workers as an alternative